Storage-enabled facilities

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling network facilities with data storage capability. A data connection is established to a storage device. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to the storage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronic data may be managed according to a service level agreement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/875,712, filed Jun. 24, 2004, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. ______,which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/218,481,filed Aug. 14, 2002, and now abandoned, with both applicationsincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figurescontain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright ownerhas no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure, but the copyright owner otherwisereserves all copyrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to computers and to telephony and, moreparticularly, to methods and systems that allow a customer to manageelectronic data in a storage-enabled telecommunications network.

2. Description of the Related Art

The explosive growth of electronic data presents storage problems. Asmore and more businesses and residences embrace information technology,businesses and residences are confronted with the problem of storingmore and more electronic information. Businesses, for example, generatethousands of electronic documents, emails, proprietary information, andthe like each day. The pressing challenge is how businesses may storeand manage this growing electronic data without investing millions ofdollars in hardware and equipment, network infrastructure, maintenance,and training. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for a storageservice that reduces a customer's investment in data storage networks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned problem, and other problems, are reduced by astorage-enabled telecommunications network. This storage-enabledtelecommunications network comprises a shared, interconnected network ofsecure storage facilities provided by a telecommunications serviceprovider. This network of secure storage facilities leverages the assetsof a telecommunications network to create a fabric of storage points ofpresence (or “POPs”). These storage POPs are then deployed throughoutthe telecommunications network to provide data storage service to arange of customers, from large corporations to individual consumers. Thestorage-enabled telecommunications network allows a customer to manageelectronic data residing on one or more storage POPs, thus providingredundant, off-site secure data storage for medical records, legalrecords, trade secrets, confidential/proprietary information, and otherelectronic information. The storage-enabled telecommunications networkmay also be used to stream data, such as digital movies, digital music,and other content, to customers.

One aspect of this invention describes a method for storing electronicdata. Telecommunications service and data storage service is provided toa customer. The data storage service stores the electronic data within anetwork of shared, interconnected storage devices. The network ofstorage devices is provided by a telecommunications service provider.The data storage service allows the customer to store, delete, retrieve,copy, and otherwise manage the electronic data remotely residing in thestorage network. At least one storage device in the network of storagedevices is associated with a central office (“CO”), a mobile telephoneswitching center (“MTSO”), or a combination CO/MTSO.

Another embodiment describes an alternative method for managingelectronic data. This method communicates electronic data to a storagedevice. The storage device is associated with a telecommunicationsfacility, such as a central office and/or a mobile telephone switchingoffice.

Still another embodiment describes yet another method for managingelectronic data. A data connection is established to a storage device.The storage device is associated with a telecommunications networkfacility. Customer-defined electronic data is communicated to thestorage device via the data connection. At least some of the electronicdata is managed according to a service level agreement.

Yet another embodiment is a system for remotely managing electronicdata. The system comprises a network of storage devices, a storageoperating system, and an application program. The network of storagedevices is provided by a telecommunications service provider. Thenetwork of storage devices comprises a plurality of shared,interconnected storage devices. The storage operating system manages thenetwork of storage devices. The application program may be installed ina customer's computer, and the application program allows the customerto manage electronic data remotely residing in the network of storagedevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this invention arebetter understood when the following Detailed Description of theInvention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing an exemplary operating environment for astorage-enabled telecommunications network according to an embodiment ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing a framework for the storage-enabledtelecommunications network according to an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic of the framework shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing another embodiment of the storage-enabledtelecommunications network;

FIG. 5 is a schematic of yet another alternative embodiment for thestorage-enabled telecommunications network;

FIG. 6 is a schematic of still another alternative embodiment for thestorage-enabled telecommunications network;

FIG. 7 is another example of wirelessly communicating electronic data toand from a storage device;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data toan interactive television;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data to adigital recording device;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematics illustrating the communication ofelectronic data to other devices;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing a method of providing storageservice to a customer; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another method of providing storageservice to a customer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention utilizes a telecommunications network facility as astorage facility. A storage device is associated with thetelecommunications network facility, and a customer may then store theirelectronic data to the storage device. If, for example, the storagedevice is associated with a central office serving the customer, thecustomer's electronic data may be archived to the storage device in thecentral office. The customer's electronic data is then archived in asecure facility designed to withstand many natural and man-madedisasters.

This invention also describes a storage-enabled telecommunicationsnetwork. If storage devices are located in various telecommunicationsnetwork facilities, then these facilities may be meshed together as astorage network. A customer, then, could store electronic data to thelocal central office, and this electronic data itself could be archivedto another telecommunications network facility. If a customer located inMiami, Fla. wants to archive electronic data geographically outside“hurricane alley,” the customer's electronic data could be transferredalong the storage network to a safer telecommunications networkfacility. The customer's electronic data, for example, could betransferred from a central office in Miami to a telecommunicationsnetwork facility in Tennessee. The customer's electronic data couldautomatically be “mirrored” from one telecommunications network facilityto another to protect against fire or other disaster. If a disaster didstrike the customer's local telecommunications network facility, thenthe customer's data connection to the storage network could be re-routedto the mirrored storage facility.

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing an exemplary operating environment for astorage-enabled telecommunications network 10. The storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10 comprises a shared, interconnected network12 of one or more storage points of presence (or “POP”) 14. Each storagepoint of presence (or “POP”) 14 has a storage device 16 for storingelectronic data. Each storage device 16 comprises any medium capable ofstoring electronic data, yet each storage device 16 preferably comprisesa magnetic, optical, or tape drive. Each storage POP 14 may alsocommunicate electronic data to another storage POP via a networktransport 18. The network transport 18 comprises interconnectionsamongst the storage POPs 14 to communicate electronic data along thenetwork 12. The network transport 18 may be any means of coupling onestorage POP to another storage POP, but the network transport 18 ispreferably high-capacity, high-bandwidth optical transport servicesand/or Gigabit Ethernet services. The network transport 18 could alsolink each storage POP 14 via a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET)structure with redundant, multiple rings.

The storage-enabled telecommunications network 10 also includes atelecommunications network facility 20. At least one storage POP 14 isassociated with the telecommunications network facility 20, such as acentral office (CO) 22, a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) 24,and/or a combination CO/MTSO 26. As those of ordinary skill in the artof telecommunications understand, the central office (CO) 22, the mobiletelephone switching office (MTSO) 24, and the combination CO/MTSO 26could each comprise switching equipment 28 that communicates with aPublic Switched Telephone Network 30. The switching equipment 28 couldinclude Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) componentry. The switchingequipment 28 could also include a packet-based “softswitch” that usessoftware control to provide voice, data, and video services bydynamically changing its connection data rates and protocols types.

The storage-enabled telecommunications network 10 may also include othertelecommunications network facilities. The telecommunications networkfacility 20 could be a base station facility 32 or an antenna facility34 of a mobile telephone network. The telecommunications networkfacility 20 could also be any building, site, or structure thatcomprises, that contains, or that houses telecommunications equipment,such as a cross-connect box or a utility pole. Because at least onestorage POP 14 is associated with the telecommunications networkfacility 20, the term “associated with” preferably means the storage POP14 is located within the central office 22 or within the mobiletelephone switching center 24. The central office 22, the mobiletelephone switching center 24, or the combination CO/MTSO 26 provides asecure site that may withstand natural and man-made disasters. The term“associated with,” however, could also mean the storage POP 14 islocated within a fenced perimeter of the telecommunications networkfacility 20, or the storage POP 14 is located on the property grounds ofthe telecommunications network facility 20. The term “associated with”could also mean the storage POP 14 is located on a roof of thetelecommunications network facility 20, within the owned or leasedpremises of the base station facility 32, or within the owned or leasedpremises of the antenna facility 34.

FIG. 1 also shows that a customer may interact with the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10. A data connection 36 is established to astorage POP 14 and, thus, to a storage device 16. This data connection36 allows electronic data to be sent and received via the dataconnection 36. The data connection 36, for example, couples thecustomer's premises 38, such as a home or business, with a storage POP14 and the storage device 16. If a computer 40 operating within thecustomer's premises 38 is coupled to the data connection 36, thecustomer may use the computer 40 to access the storage device 14 and tocommunicate electronic data. FIG. 1 shows the computer 40 coupled to astorage device 42 operating within the central office 22. Because thestorage device 42 is also interconnected with each storage POP 14 viathe network transport 18, the customer could also have permission toaccess any other storage POP 14 within the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10. The data connection 36 comprises anymeans of coupling the customer's premises 38 to the storage POP tocommunicate electronic data. The means of coupling the customer'spremises 38 to the storage POP includes optical transmission ofelectronic data, wireless transmission of electronic data, and/orfixed-wire transmission of electronic data. Fiber optic technologies,spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense Wave Division Multiplexing),Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet services, and Digital Subscriber Lines(DSL) are just some examples of the means of coupling the customer'spremises 38 to the storage POP to communicate electronic data. The meansof coupling the customer's premises 38 to the storage POP could alsoinclude a fixed wire connection to the storage POP 14 via a local loopof a telecommunications network to communicate electronic data.

Because at least one storage POP 14 is associated with thetelecommunications facility 20, a telecommunications service provider isable to offer a storage service to the customer. This storage serviceallows the customer to manage electronic data stored within thestorage-enabled telecommunications network 10. The customer, forexample, uses the computer 40 to access the storage device 42 associatedwith the central office 22, and the customer sends and receiveselectronic files, movies, music, and other electronic data. When thecustomer manages electronic data residing within the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10, the term “manage” means the customer may(i) store electronic data to the storage device 42, (ii) retrieveelectronic data from the storage device 42, (iii) delete electronic datafrom the storage device 42, and (iv) protect electronic data residing onthe storage device 42. The term “manage” also means the customer may (v)send electronic data to a destination outside the network 12 of storagedevices and (vi) archive electronic data on the storage device 42 or onany other storage device 16 communicating with the network 12. The term“manage” also means the customer may (vii) send electronic data to, andreceive electronic data from, any Internet Protocol address on adistributed computing network (such as the Internet). “Manage”electronic data also means the customer may (viii) encrypt electronicdata that is sent to, received from, or transmitted within the network12, (ix) copy electronic data transmitted to, from, or within thenetwork 12, (vi) and associate electronic data with other electronicdata transmitted to, from, or within the network 12. This storageservice may also permit the customer to save, delete, copy, retrieve,protect/encrypt, archive, and, in general, “manage” electronic dataresiding within the storage device 42, residing within any other storagedevice 14 communicating with the network 12, and residing within thenetwork 12.

FIG. 2 is a schematic showing a framework 44 for the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10. This framework 44 comprises four (4)layers: the network transport 18, the storage devices 16, a storageoperating system 46, and an application program 48. The fourth layer,the network transport 18, comprises any means of coupling one storagedevice to another storage device to communicate electronic data. Themeans of coupling one storage device to another storage device includesoptical transmission of electronic data, wireless transmission ofelectronic data, and/or fixed-wire transmission of electronic data.Fiber optic technologies, spectrum multiplexing (such as Dense WaveDivision Multiplexing), Gigabit Ethernet services, and DigitalSubscriber (DSL) Lines are just some examples of the means of couplingone storage device to another storage device to communicate electronicdata.

The third layer is the hardware for storing electronic data. Eachstorage device 16 comprises any medium or device that is capable ofstoring computer files, digital movies, digital music, and otherelectronic data. Each storage device 16, however, preferably comprises amagnetic, optical, or tape drive system for storing electronic data. Thestorage devices 16 are purchased from vendors such as EMC Corporation(35 Parkwood Drive, Hopkinton Mass. 01748, www.emc.com) and IBMCorporation (1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains N.Y. 10604,www.ibm.com). The storage devices 16 are then interconnected along thenetwork transport 18 to create the network 12 of storage devices.

The second layer is the storage operating system 46. The storageoperating system 46 is preferably an off-the-shelf software package thatprovisions, monitors, manages, and bills for the use of the storageservice. The preferred software package is the StorageManager v5.0product from Storage Networks (Storage Networks, Incorporated, 225 WymanStreet, Waltham Mass. 02451, www.storagenetworks.com). TheStorageManager v5.0 product is compatible with various models andmanufacturers of storage devices, and the StorageManager v5.0 productallows the storage-enabled telecommunications network to be centrallymonitored and managed from a storage network operating center 50.Although the StorageManager v5.0 product is the preferred storageoperating system 46, the storage operating system 46 may alternativelybe any data storage management application that manages, or providesaccess to, one or more of the storage devices.

The first layer is the application program 48. One or more applicationprograms operate on the customer's computer 40. The customer's computer40 may have special software or software agents installed that willallow the storage service to be performed. As the customer manageselectronic data residing on a remote storage device 16 (such as thestorage device 42 in the central office 22), an application program isexecuted to provide the management task. If, for example, the customerwishes to archive electronic data to a storage device 16, anarchival/backup application program 48 or “agent” communicates with thestorage-enabled telecommunications network 10 and executes the archivaltask. Any other data management task, such as saving, deleting, copying,retrieving, protecting/encrypting, and, in general, “managing,” would beexecuted by one or more application programs or agents. The one or moreapplication programs 48 are installed in the customer's computer 40, andthe application programs 48 allow the customer to manage electronic dataremotely residing in the storage-enabled telecommunications network 10.

The framework for the storage service may also include a service levelagreement. The service level agreement is an agreement between thestorage service provider and the customer. The service level agreementcommits that the storage service provider will store data under certainparameters. The service level agreement, for example, could specify howan archival operation is performed or how frequently the customer mayaccess the storage service. The service level agreement could also bindthe storage service provider to provide archival electronic data withina certain time frame (e.g., 30 minutes or 24 hours).

FIG. 3 is a more detailed schematic of the framework 44 shown in FIG. 2.Each storage POP 14 has one or more storage devices 16, and the networktransport 18 interconnects the storage POPs 14 to communicate electronicdata along the network (shown as reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1). Atleast one storage POP 14 is associated with the telecommunicationsfacility 20. The storage operating system 46 operates on each storagedevice 16, and the storage devices 16 and the storage operating system46 are centrally monitored from the storage network operating center 50.One or more application programs 48 operate on the customer's computers40 and also communicate, via the data connection 36 and via the networktransport 18, with the storage network operating center 50.

The framework 44 may also include one or more storage switches 52. Thesestorage switches 52 interconnect one or more storage devices 16operating within a storage POP 14. As FIG. 3 shows, for example, thestorage POP 14 associated with the telecommunications network facility20 may have more than one storage device 16. The storage POP 14, infact, could have many storage devices 16 depending upon the amount ofelectronic data to be stored and depending upon the capacity of eachstorage device 16. The storage switch 52 is then connected to eachstorage device 16 operating at the storage POP 14, and the storageswitch 52 routes electronic data from a shared connection to the properstorage device 16. The network transport 18 then interconnects eachstorage switch 52 at each storage POP 14, and the storage switch 52 ateach storage POP 14 is, in turn, connected to each storage device 16operating at each storage POP 14. The interconnected storage switches 52thus allow the storage devices 16, operating at each storage POP 14, toshare the network transport 18.

The customer's premises 38 may also include a storage switch 52. If thedata connection 36 to the customer's premises 38 is shared between oneor more networked computers 40, and/or a network-attached storage system54, then a storage switch 52 is also operating at the customer'spremises 38. The storage switch 52 connects to the customer's networkand routes electronic data from the shared data connection 36 to theproper networked storage device. The data connection 36 is thusestablished between the customer's premises 38 and the storage POP 14,and electronic data is sent and received via the data connection 36.

The storage network operating center 50 monitors the storage switches52. As FIG. 3 shows, the storage network operating center 50 isinterconnected to each storage switch 52 via the network transport 18.The storage network operating center 50 may then monitor each storageswitch 52 and observe performance, packet flows, status, errors, andother operational indicators for each storage switch 52. Because eachstorage switch 52 is also interconnected to each storage device 16operating at each storage POP 14, the storage network operating center50 also monitors the performance and the operation of each storagedevice 16. The storage network operating center 50 would also be able tomonitor the storage switch 52 operating at the customer's premises 38,so the storage network operating center 50 may also know the performanceand the operation of the customer's networked computers 40 and/or thenetwork-attached storage system 54. The storage network operating center50 also runs the storage operating system 46 common to all storagedevices 16, so the storage network operating center 50 could remotelydiagnose and repair problems.

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing another embodiment of the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10. Here the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10 includes a central storage POP 56. Thecentral storage POP 56 is also interconnected to each storage POP 14 viathe network transport 18. The central storage POP 56 may be associatedwith a telecommunications network facility. The central storage POP 56stores large amounts of electronic data that exceed the capacity, or theperformance desires, of the smaller storage POP 14. The central storagePOP 56, for example, could be used as a content library and storesdigital movies, music, news, and video. When the customer wants todownload and receive digital content, such as a digital movie, thedigital content is communicated (or “streamed”) from the central storagePOP 56, to the storage POP 14 communicating with the customer's premises38, and along the data connection 36 to the customer's premises 38. Thecustomer may then view or listen to the digital content using any devicecapable of playing or of executing digital content, such as the computer40.

FIG. 4 also illustrates an alternative embodiment for a fee-based orsubscription-based content service. Because the central storage POP 56may store digital content, customers could be notified when contentmatches the customer's desires. A content provider, such as DISNEY®,WARNER BROS.®, or BELLSOUTH®, could store/post digital content to thecentral storage POP 56. A customer profile indicates what content thecustomer prefers, such as news, sports, classic movies, or pop music.When content is stored, or “posted,” to the central storage POP 56, andthat content matches the customer's profile, the customer could benotified of that profile-matching content. The customer could thenreceive or download the profile-matching content. The customer could becharged a fee for the digital content, or the customer could subscribeto the profile-matching content. The digital content could also befreely offered to the customer.

FIG. 4 also illustrates an alternative embodiment for a fee-basedstorage service. The storage POP 14, or the central storage POP 56,could store a customer's digital music, movies, and other digitalcontent. As digital content becomes more ubiquitous, customers will needto store their digital content. The customer may choose to store theirdigital content on the storage POP 14 or on the central storage POP 56.The customer could be charged a fee for this storage service.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of yet another alternative embodiment for thestorage-enabled telecommunications network 10. FIG. 5 shows thestorage-enabled telecommunications network 10 may wirelessly communicateelectronic data to and from the storage device 42 (or any storage device16 at any storage POP 14). Electronic data is communicated from thestorage device 42, through the storage switch 52, and to the switchingequipment 28 associated with the telecommunications network facility 20.The switching equipment 28 routes the electronic data to a mobiletelephone switching center 58. The mobile telephone switching center 58then wirelessly communicates the electronic data to a wirelesscommunications device 60, such as a mobile phone 62, a pager 64, awireless personal data assistant 66, or a wireless digital music device68 (such as a wireless.mp3 player). The wireless communications device60 could also communicate electronic data to the storage device 42 usingthe same infrastructure. Various standards and technologies could beused to support wireless communication to and from the wirelesscommunications device 60, such as 2G, 2.5G, and 3G cellular techniques.Those of ordinary skill in the art also recognize the sameinfrastructure could also be used to communicate electronic data to asatellite phone.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of yet another alternative embodiment for thestorage-enabled telecommunications network 10. Here the storage-enabledtelecommunications network 10 wirelessly communicates electronic data toand from the storage device 42 (or any storage device 16 at any storagePOP 14) using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technique.Electronic data is communicated from the storage device 42, through thestorage switch 52, and to a communications (“Comm”) server 70. The Commserver 70 formats the electronic data into one or more Wireless Mark-upLanguage (WML) messages 72. The WML messages 72 are then communicatedover a data network 74 to a WAP gateway 76. The WAP gateway 76 theninterfaces with the mobile telephone switching center 58, and the mobiletelephone switching center 58 then wirelessly communicates theelectronic data to a WAP phone 78, the pager 64, or the wirelesspersonal data assistant 66. Those of ordinary skill in the art oftelecommunications understand the WAP gateway 76 uses a WAP push proxyserver to push messages to the WAP phone 78, the pager 64, or thewireless personal data assistant 66. The Wireless Mark-up Language (WML)and the WAP technique are known and will not be further described. Thisis a description of a solution for a specific wireless protocol, such asWAP. This solution may be clearly extended to other wireless protocol,such as i-mode.

FIG. 7 is another example of wirelessly communicating electronic data toand from the storage device 42 (or any storage device 16 at any storagePOP 14). Here, however, the wireless technique uses VoiceXML (VoiceeXtensible Markup Language). Electronic data is communicated from thestorage device 42, through the storage switch 52, and to the Comm server70. The Comm server 70 formats the electronic data into one or moreVoiveXML messages 80. The VoiceXML messages 80 are then communicatedover the data network 74 to a VoiceXML gateway 82. The VoiceXML gateway82 then interfaces with the mobile telephone switching center 58, andthe mobile telephone switching center 58 then wirelessly communicatesthe electronic data to the mobile phone 62, the pager 64, or thewireless personal data assistant 66.

The customer could use Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) keys to approveor decline the electronic data. If, for example, the customer wishes todecline electronic data, the customer may transmit a Dual ToneMulti-Frequency (DTMF) key to indicate the customer does not wish towirelessly receive the electronic data. If the customer prefers toapprove the wireless communication of any electronic data, the customer,similarly, may transmit a DTMF key to approve any wireless communicationor transmission of electronic data. DTMF signaling is a means oftransferring information from the customer through the use of in-bandaudio tones. Each digit of information is assigned a simultaneouscombination of one of a lower group of frequencies and one of a highergroup of frequencies to represent each digit or character. Those ofordinary skill in the art of telecommunications understand the VoiceXMLgateway 82 enables access to, and modification of, web-based informationthrough a normal voice interface. VoiceXML, in addition, provides forautomatic speech recognition and/or text-to-speech communication.VoiceXML, therefore, provides understandable communication between thecustomer, using the mobile phone 62, the pager 64, or the wirelesspersonal data assistant 66, and an application running on the Commserver 70. The VoiceXML technique, the VoiceXML gateway 82, and the DTMFtechnique are known and will not be further described.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data toan interactive television 84. Electronic data is communicated from thestorage POP 42, through the storage switch 52, and to the customer'spremises 38 via the data connection 36. The electronic data could alsobe communicated from the central storage POP 56, through the storageswitch 52, and to the customer's premises 38 via the data connection 36.If the customer has multiple devices sharing the data connection 36, theelectronic data may also be routed through the storage switch 52 at thecustomer's premises 38. The interactive television 84 couples either tothe data connection 36 or to the storage switch 52. The interactivetelevision 84 receives the electronic data and the customer may view theelectronic data on the interactive television 84.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustrating communication of electronic data to adigital recording device 86. The digital recording device 86 digitallystores movies, music, news, and other electronic data. The digitalrecording device 86 comprises any medium capable of storing electronicdata, yet the digital recording device 86 preferably comprises amagnetic, optical, or tape drive. Electronic data is communicated fromthe storage POP 42, through the storage switch 52, and to the customer'spremises 38 via the data connection 36. The electronic data could alsobe communicated from the central storage POP 56, through the storageswitch 52, and to the customer's premises 38 via the data connection 36.If the customer has multiple devices sharing the data connection 36, theelectronic data may also be routed through the storage switch 52 at thecustomer's premises 38. The digital recording device 86 couples eitherto the data connection 36 or to the storage switch 52. The digitalrecording device 86 receives the electronic data and stores theelectronic data for later use.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematics illustrating the communication ofelectronic data to other devices. FIG. 10 shows electronic data may becommunicated to a device coupled to the data connection 36. As FIG. 10shows, a device with a digital signal processor (DSP) 86 coupled to thedata connection 36 could receive electronic data. The electronic data iscommunicated from the storage POP 42 to the digital signal processor 86via the data connection 36. FIG. 10 also shows any device with a modem88 coupled to the data connection 36 could receive electronic data. Theelectronic data is communicated from the storage POP 42 to the modem 88via the data connection 36. FIG. 11 shows electronic data may bewirelessly communicated to any device having the digital signalprocessor 86 and/or the modem 88. FIG. 11 also shows electronic data maybe wirelessly communicated to a satellite phone 90 or to a GlobalPositioning System (“GPS”) device 92 that receives, or that displays,Global Positioning System coordinates.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing a method of providing storageservice to a customer. Telecommunications service (Block 94) and datastorage service (Block 96) is provided by a telecommunications serviceprovider. The data storage service allows the customer to manageelectronic data stored or residing on a remote storage device (Block98). The remote storage device communicates with a network of shared,interconnected storage devices (Block 100). The data storage serviceallows the customer to access at least one storage device associatedwith a telecommunications network facility (Block 102). The at least onestorage device, for example, could be associated with a central office(CO) of a telecommunications network (Block 104), a mobile telephoneswitching office (MTSO) (Block 106), and/or a telecommunicationsfacility comprising telephone switching equipment and mobile telephoneswitching equipment (CO/MTSO) (Block 108). The data storage serviceallows the customer to store, send, and archive electronic data to theremote storage device (Block 110). The customer may also retrieve andmay delete electronic data from the remote storage device (Block 112).

The flowchart continues with FIG. 13. The data storage service alsoallows the customer to protect and/or to encrypt electronic dataresiding on the remote storage device (Block 114). The customer may sendelectronic data within the network of storage devices (Block 116), andthe customer may send electronic data to a destination outside thenetwork of storage devices, such as an Internet Protocol address on adistributed computing network (e.g., the Internet) (Block 118). The datastorage service may also allow the customer to archive electronic datato the network of storage devices (Block 120). The customer may copyelectronic data to a storage device or copy from one storage device toanother storage device (Block 122). The customer may also combine, link,join, or associate electronic data with other data (Block 124).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another method of providing storageservice to a customer. A data connection is established to a storagedevice (Block 126). The data connection may comprise a landlineconnection and/or a wireless connection to the storage device. Thestorage device is associated with a telecommunications network facility(Block 128), such as a central office (CO) (Block 130) and/or a mobiletelephone switching office (MTSO) (Block 132). Customer-definedelectronic data is communicated to the storage device via the dataconnection (Block 134). The storage service then allows the customer tomanage the electronic data residing on the storage device (Block 136).Electronic data may also be communicated from the storage device (Block138). Electronic data may be communicated from the storage device to acomputer (Block 140). Electronic data may also be communicated from thestorage device to a wireless communications device, such as a mobilephone, a cellular phone, a WAP phone, a satellite phone, a pager, and apersonal digital assistant (Block 142). Electronic data may also becommunicated from the storage device to a digital music device, adigital recording device, or an interactive television (Block 144).Electronic data may also be communicated from the network of storagedevices to the storage device (Block 146).

While the present invention has been described with respect to variousfeatures, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in theart will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations,modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1. A method, comprising: providing a remote data storage service to asubscriber; receiving the subscriber's electronic data; storing thesubscriber's electronic data to a remote storage device located within acentral office; and allowing the subscriber to manage the subscriber'selectronic data on the remote storage device.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, further comprising archiving the subscriber's electronic datato another location.
 3. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising interconnecting the remote storage device to a network ofshared, interconnected storage devices.
 4. The method according to claim1, further comprising retrieving a service agreement defining the remotedata storage service.
 5. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising storing digital content within the central office.
 6. Themethod according to claim 5, further comprising downloading the digitalcontent to the subscriber.
 7. A system, comprising: a processorexecuting a software application that causes the processor to: provide aremote data storage service to a subscriber; receive the subscriber'selectronic data; store the subscriber's electronic data to a remotestorage device located within a central office; allow the subscriber tomanage the subscriber's electronic data on the remote storage device. 8.The system according to claim 7, wherein the software application causesthe processor to receive a request for content.
 9. The system accordingto claim 8, wherein the software application causes the processor toretrieve the requested content from a central storage.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the software application causes theprocessor to stream the requested content to the subscriber.
 11. Thesystem according to claim 7, wherein the software application causes theprocessor to match stored content to a profile describing the customer.12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the software applicationcauses the processor to notify the customer when the stored contentmatches the profile describing the customer.
 13. The system according toclaim 12, wherein the software application causes the processor tocharge a fee when the stored content matches the profile describing thecustomer.
 14. The system according to claim 7, wherein the softwareapplication causes the processor to charge a fee for storing thesubscriber's electronic data to the remote storage device located withinthe central office.
 15. A method, comprising: establishing a dataconnection to a remote storage device located within a central office ofa local loop; communicating customer-defined electronic data to thestorage device over the data connection; and allowing a customer tomanage the customer-defined electronic data that is stored on the remotestorage device.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprisingtransferring the customer-defined electronic data to a different centraloffice.
 17. The method according to claim 15, further comprisingreceiving the customer's selection of the central office that remotelystores the customer-defined electronic data.
 18. The method according toclaim 15, further comprising permitting access to other remote storagedevices located in other central offices.
 19. The method according toclaim 15, further comprising storing the customer's digital content tothe storage device.
 20. The method according to claim 15, furthercomprising interconnecting the remote storage device to a network ofshared, interconnected storage devices.